The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-31
BUFFALO BILL IN LONDON.
The Attentions and Courtesies Showered Upon
Him by English Aristocrats.

The Attentions and Courtesies Showered Upon
Him by English Aristocrats.
T. c. Crawford. in New York World.
No American who has ever visited Europe has
Grant when he came here did not occupy
larger place in the minds of the British pubic
than Buffalo Bill Although Mr. Cody has not
been in London over a month he is to-day as we'll
known to the masses of this great city or 5.00O,-
600 as is the Queen. You could not pick up in
the most obscure quarter of London anyone so
ignorant as to not know who and what he 49,
His name is every WALL His picture is in
nearly every window The wonder of this lies
in the fact that the London public is strangely
dull and unimaginative. The people of one quar-
ter are often as ignorant of a neigh borhood
within stones throw of them if it were in
central Africa. You find constantly the proof Of
policemen never know where particular streets
or buildings outside of their beats are located.
An Englishman who has lived in London for .
quarter of century tells me that no one but az.
American would think of asking London
policeman for anything in the way of infor
nation. London policemen are often
placed on guard in front of English Off
Gals houses where they absolutely
ignorant of the name of tho occupant 1t is a.
genuine and not affected ignorance. have
asked higher police officials about thus, and they
say that the men very often do not know and do
not | saw some twenty policemen guard
ing one day. the house of the Prime Minister
| asked several of the men on guard if they
knew whose house they were guarding. They
all replied in the most courteous negative. FL
nay of them referred me to older con-
stable, who had been the beat in that neigh
borhood for some years, and he able to give
the information. Imagine a set of New York
policemen guarding any prominent officials
house in New Y ork without their knowing just
what they were dong, and particularly If II
the house of the chief officer of our govern
ment In order to get full idea of this ignor-
of the London policemen you will have ia
make "A comparison. Suppose the average tour
list in New York should ask Madison square
policeman where the Gilsey House was. OF
where the Fifth-avenue Hotel was, and be met
with the positive statement that he did not
know can hardly imagine any policeman in
New York of any experience who does not know
every street and point or public interest on Man
haitian island. But even the London policemen
know who Buffalo Bill is! | use this fact merely
to illustrate how mis- notoriety and fame hava
permeated down to the densest stratum of pub
lie indifference and ignorance
Another peculiar feature of Codvs London
fame is that he is equally popular in the lowest
and highest walks of society. He is really a
great London lion. He is as much in demand
at all kinds of high society gatherings as it he
were visiting prince. Indeed few visiting
princes could have as many invitations thrust
upon him he has had since his arrival here
He is obliged to refuse the majority of the in
vitations which pursue him. He tried to go out
to the London dinners when he first came here,
but he soon found that they were too much Tor
him. Latterly hes finds it much more agreeable
to entertain people in his own quarters. where
there is nearly always crowd when there is no
performance
to secure Codys presence on the top of his coach
at the last meeting of the Coaching Club. Tho
Prince and Princess of Wales were present
among the spectators. They attracted no moro
attention than did Mr. Cody. Wherever the
coach went which carried his stalwart
picturesque figure there the crowd would
follow. And whenever it would stop the crowd
would mass as if they were about ROYALTY
carriage. The papers all speak of the stoical
indifference of Cody under all this fire of admir-
ing glances. The truth is that he Is bored by it.
He is surfeited by admiration and attention. lie
would like little more freedom from notice.
But the penalty of greatness is now upon Vim,
and wherever he goes he is Immediately the
centre of great gaping crowd. The secret OF
his success with the higher classes is in his mod
esty and in mis- graceful, gentle manners. HIS
has none of the staggering conceit of joaquin
Miller and under all tho fire of compliments and
adulation he remains simple and unaffected All
of the Wild West people appear to good advans-
age when brought in contact with the royal or
titled personages to whom they have been pre-
sented They all easy, self possessed, and
show none of the cringing humility exhibited by
the average toady when presented to somebody
he imagines to be his superior. That is the real
secret of the popularity of these Wild West
people with the high class English people.
There is no one who despises servile attention
more than the best English people All of tbs
Americans in London are proud of the effect
produced by the Wild West part of the Amer.
ica VII